Three men in the US are suspected of plotting to kidnap and transfer stolen Bitcoin, facing up to 20 years in prison.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced that three men from St. Louis—Sedric Louis, John Davis, and Martel Williams—are charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce through robbery, allegedly plotting to break into a residence and force victims to transfer cryptocurrency linked to a multi-hundred-million-dollar bitcoin theft. Each faces up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors allege the trio traveled to Connecticut between August 21 and 24, 2024, rented a vehicle, prepared items including airsoft guns and walkie-talkies, surveilled the target and his parents for two consecutive days, then abandoned the operation over fears that home security cameras would record their movements. A separate group of individuals from Florida later executed the same plan, and six people were arrested on August 25 in connection with a Lamborghini Urus carjacking. Louis and Davis have been in custody since their June 25 arrest, and pleaded not guilty to the charges at Bridgeport Federal Court on July 30. Williams entered the same not guilty plea on July 17 and was granted bail afterward. Prosecutors clarified that the targeted individuals were the parents of people involved in the multi-hundred-million-dollar bitcoin theft, and the indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt.